Haha I knew you'd try that one. The answer is because he's good at playing football... Not Bruce ball
Bruce did aswel as rafa for 2 seasons You're referring to a time we were 10th best over 18 games so I gave have him credit for it and nobody liked it. I credit where its due otherwise I'm being insincere.
I wouldn't overly read too much into Howe bigging up Joelinton, Shelvey etc. He's got to make the best of the players he has and he has clearly identified those two as needing to feel loved. Just good management. I do think though that we need to see how Joelinton goes under him. I have been bigging Joe up for a while (even before Howe) because I liked what I've seen from him. His work rate has been good and if some of the others had put his effort in, we'd have more points. He still has a long way to go of course, and I don't think he'll develop into a world beater, but I still think he can be a good squad player. He has at various stages had every NUFC fan say "ah man he's just utter ****, never gonna cut it". When he was bad, he was really really bad. But his confidence was shot. The scouts, Joe himself and the manager/coaches all thought they could make him into a No.9. In hindsight it was a horrific decision and ill thought out. It ****ed his confidence, zeroed the fans confidence in him, and generally made his life very difficult. He's bouncing back and I think the fact he has never lost that hope he can turn it round is a great quality/attitude to have.
Its been a bit of a disaster for him but he's definitely got some talent and we have got nowhere near extracting it from him. Bruce, Jones and the coaches have to take some responsibility. But I see it as a collective of failing of all involved with the club, and the buck stops with the owner. That scouting team said he was 40m, they said he could be a striker, etc. His time here has been handled appallingly. I think some of the fans now just point blank refuse to give him a chance which I think is wrong. I was saying a while back for a few games in a row he'd been our best player. Yet people on here, my mates etc were all saying "nah he's ****, he is league one standard". He is not getting a fair crack of the whip. I think the slate should be wiped clean for everyone including the fans who refused to acknowledge his improvement and we should get behind him.
The fans don't deal clean slates they pick players and managers they don't like and continue to bully them regardless of performances and results
The fans were ****s from day 1 and they don't like it back. Essentially they like to push people about and then stand their crying their eyes out when the target hits back. Bruce fine fur a couple of seasons but ultimately left the club a mess.
Replace "The fans" with "Some fans" and I can agree with you. I would add though that with decent performances more and more fans will change their minds. I for one am happy to give any player a chance to prove they can work under new management.
Yes of course there was a minority that credited where it was due. The mass majority behaved as I said and that never changes.
